The U.S Department of Transportation (DOT) announced the formation of a formula working group to analyze the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) and the way it allocates grant money.

MCSAP is a grant program established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The program is used to maintain states' commercial motor vehicle (CMV) enforcement programs around the country, providing critical support for state-conducted compliance investigations, roadside inspections, new entrant audits and traffic enforcement activities.

The formula working group will analyze the requirements for allocating MCSAP funds and report its recommendations to the DOT Secretary next year. It was established by DOT Secretary Anthony Foxx as a stipulation of the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, signed into law by President Obama in December.

“The Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program provides critical funds each year to states to support their large truck and bus safety efforts,” said Foxx. “Now that we have expeditiously fulfilled this FAST Act requirement, I look forward to receiving the working group’s recommendations on how we can enhance and streamline this important safety grant program with the ultimate goal of making our nation’s roads safer.”

Eight of the 10 public members are from state CMV safety agencies. The group also includes two members from non-profit organizations representing state CMV enforcement agencies as a whole. FMCSA also appointed a panel of five employees from their agency to review all considerations submitted by the group.

Criteria for candidates included commitment to transfortation safety, record of collaboration with diverse stakeholders and MCSAP program leadership.